Cotton dispenser



Jan.. 25, 1966 Filed May l, 1963 D. SEIDLER COTTON DISPENSER 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIG. 6.

INVENTOR DAVID SEIDLER BY mi 7km/m ATTORNEYS.

.Fam 25, 1966 D. sElDLER 3,231,164

COTTON DISPENSER Filed May l, 1963 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR DAVID SEIDLER Jam 25, 1965 D. sElDLl-:R 3,231,164

COTTON DISPENSER Filed May l, 1963 3 Sheets-Sheet L5 FIG.

FIG. l2.

|NVENTOR DAAVID SEIDLER BY :3Q/w?! s 7gg/Law, mi

UnitedStates Patent O 3,231,164 CTEQN DISPENSIERv David Seidler, 674-38 ltthSt., ForestE-Iills 175, NX. Filed May 1, 1963, Ser. No;-277,377 9 Claims. (Cl.` 22S-96) This invention relates to an improved dispenser for absorbent cotton and the like;

One object of the invention is to provide apparatus for dispensing `absorbent cotton inV coiled strip form. Specifically, among the objects of the invention is to provide a replaceable container packed with a continuous strip of absorbent cotton in coil form. Such container may be readily attached .to the dispenser, and thebeginning of the coiled strip may be threaded into the dispenser mechanism. Further in accordance with the broad purpose-of the invention, the operator may dispensea se# lected length of cotton by simple rmanipulation of a lingerpiece on the dispenser.

As an important featureof the invention,'the manipulation of thengerpiecerst freely drawsthe cotton strip from the container throgh'the dispenser and then automatically engages teeth or other suitablefretardingmeans with the strip at a point spaced from its lead end, so as C tov prevent movement of the main stripbehind the retard-f ing means upon further movement ofthe lead end of the strip. t This causes the strip-to be severed at the point of engagement of the retarding means.

The above described provision of an initial draw of the strip, followed by application of the retarding means while the draw operation is continued is highly advantageous, in that it is unnecessary to cut or otherwise shear the cotton, which would be extremely diicult.

Another object of the invention is to provide a dispenser, the `parts of which 'may be readily fabricated and Y and cotton container, as viewed generally from the front. t

FIG. 2 is a vertical longitudinal section taken centrally of the assembled container and dispenser.

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary view similar to FIG. 2, show-` ing the condition of theparts as the result of actuation of the fingerpiece to dispense a length of cotton.

FIG. `4 is a fragmentary section on lineA 4 4 of FIG. `2.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view `of an element of the cotton drawing mechanism.

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary section on line 6-6 of FIG. 4.

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary `section on line 7-7 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary section t on line 8-8 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 9 is a side elevation of one of the elements of theretarding mechanism, taken on one of the sides of the mechanism as shown in FIGS. 7 and 8.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the tearing or retarding element of the retarding mechanism.

FIG. 11 is a section on line 11-11 of FIG. l0.

FIG. 12 is a view similar to FIG. 1l, showing a modiiication of the elementtof FIG. 10.

FIG. 13 is a view similar to FIG. 10, showing a further moditication of the element of FIG. 10.

rice

General description The apparatus in accordance withthe invention gen-` erally comprises a dispenser ltland replaceable container 11, shown in exploded view in FIG. 1.` The container r11` holds a bag 130, shown in FIG; 19, and this bag'130is packed with a continuous strip ltlof absorbent cotton.` f By absorbent cotton is meant the cotton in loosebrous r form, such as is commonly usedfor external application of liquid medicines andthe like, and` for other uses. The

cotton is received within bag 130-inthev form-of tightly packed successive costuras rosa.y F1os. u 14`18- show apparatus 12 for packing theV cotton intofbag 13,0@

Container 11 and dispenser 10are provided with simple` `means for releasably assembling them, as shownin FIG; 2, and the `leading .end of the cotton strip 105fmay-be initially manually threadedinto the casinggof` dispenser 16 as shown in FIG 2.

Dispenser 1@ has a front guide member 106 `which re ceives ingerpiece 116 for sliding vertical movement, the ngerpiece 116 being connected by cable 115 todrurn 113. t Drum 111 is biased by spring112 soas normally" to maintain tingerpiece 116 in its upperposition shownA in FIG. 2.

Pull member 120, shown separately in FIG. 5, is coupled to fingerpiece 116 and is adapted to engagethe leadV end portion of the cotton strip 105so as to Inoveit downwardly upon lowering of fingerpiece 116, as clearly shown; The teeth 143 of member `12111 `are shaped"` .so as to permit return of ngerpiece 116 -to its upper" position of FIG. 2, upon release of the ingerpiece by the' in FIG. 3.

operator, without interfering with the cotton strip.'

Dispenser 10 further generally comprises-a retarding and tearing element 161, various moditicationsof which are shown in FIGS. l0-11, 12` and 13, together with"V means coupling iingerpiece -116and element161-in such a way that at an intermediate point of the operating stroke of iingerpiece 116, the element `161 is movedfrom" retracted position of FIG. 2 to forward extended position of FIG. 3. In such extended position, thetteeth 165 or 'other members of element 161 engage the cotton'strip 105.` As a result, the continuation of the operating stroke of ngerpiece 116 causes strip HB5l to tear apart-Within the vicinity of the teeth 165. At the conclusion of the operating stroke of ngerpiece 116, the lead end of the severed stripV portion 111517 protrudes through the bottom of the casing of dispenser 10 and may be grasped by the user and removed.

Detailed description of the dispenser and container` Dispenser 11i has a generally rectangular, vertically elongated casing 13 which rests upon a laturectangular Carton 11 is generally rectangular and optionallyof* about the same Witdh as casing 13; Carton 11 has a front-- wall 15 and a cover 16 hingedly connected to the upper :edge 15a of wall 15. The usual tuck flap 16d is hingedly connected to the front end of cover 16. f Cover `16is shown slightly raised in FIG. l.

For ease of releasable assembly, pins 192 on casing 13 may engage in openings in container rear wall 15, and flap Itltl may be struck from rear wall 15 and engage in element 191 on the top wall 17 of casing 13. Specically, the pins 102 extend longitudinally rearwardly andpreferably on the same level from the rear wall of casing 13 adjacent the sides thereof. The rear Wall 15 of container 11 is provided with perforated round elements 1113 which may be struck out by the pins 102 to form the holes irl Patented- Jan.' 25, 1 966 Base 14 may rest upon a table or-` wall for reception of the pins. The rectangular tab 100 is secured to wall 15 by a line of perforations 19 along the two side edges and bottom edge of tab 101i. Tab 100 is secured at its upper end to wall 15 along the edge 15a. Accordingly, for connection of container 11 and casing 13, tab 16) may be struck out rearwardly along its hinge line 15a and inserted into the guide member 101, with pins 102 inserted into wall 15 at the break out elements 193. Container 11 then rests upon the rear portion of base 14 with wall 15 ush against the rear wall 20 of dispenser 13. The member 1M consists of parallel rectangular blocks 21 fixed to top wall 17 of dispenser 13. Each of these blocks 21 has a full length undercut 22 on its inner face. Accordingly, the struck out tab 100 is received upon wall 17 with the edge Zones of tab 100 withiny the undercut grooves 22. Pins 1112 stabilize the container against lateral shifting.

The struck out tab 190 leaves a top central opening 104a in carton 11 which registers with a corresponding opening 104 in dispenser rear wall 20. As a result, the bag 130 received within carton 11 may be torn open at the top, and the lead end of the cotton strip 105 may be drawn from the bag through the registering openings 104a and 1114 into the interior of the hollow casing 13.

The interior of casing 13 is provided with a channel through which the cotton 105 may be drawn. This channel includes a rear wall 180 which is located intermediate and parallel to the casing rear wall 20 and front wall 23. The upper end of wall 180 connects with a top wall 24 which extends to and connects with the rear wall 2@ just below opening 104. The lower end portion 25 of wali 180 is curved forwardly downwardly and terminates at the front of casing 11 upon base 14. As shown in FIG. l, front wall 23 has an opening 26 which opposes wall 180 and its lower extension 25, and which extends to the bottom end of wall 23, so as to provide` an exit opening for the cotton.

The sides of the chute are defined by walls 181e which will later be described in greater detail.

The guide assembly 106 includes front plate 106e which overlies the front of wall 23 and extends beyond the sides of the full length slot 26 in wall 23. At the level between the .section lines 4-4 and 7-7 of FIG. 2, plate 166e is provided at each side with fairly closely spaced parallel,l rearwardly extending vertical flanges 196i and 196g. Suitable means on casing front Wall 23 are provided for receiving these flanges 106]c and 106g. Specifically, casing 11 has parallel intermediate vertically and longitudinally extending walls 181a which extend from the rear of the casing to the front thereof. Slot 26` is located between these walls 181:1. Flanges 3d parallel to front wall 23 extend outwardly from walls 181e, and further ilanges 31 extend from the outer side edges of anges 30 to connect with wall 23, as shown in FIG. 4. A resulting pair of pockets between the respective walls 18151 and flanges 31 is provided, for reception of the respective paired anges 106]c and 106g.

As shown in FiG. 4 and other views, the rear chute wall 130 extends between the walls 181m At and below the level of section line 8 8 of FIG. 2, the anges 106]c and 106g are replaced by single side flanges 160i which are located adjacent the ilanges 31.

Slightly above the level of section line 4-4 of FIG. 2, the plate 106e is cut away for reception of the drum 110, cable 115 and spring 112. Specifically, a back plate 106g connects the side flanges of the member 166 and extends to the top of the guide member. At its top, the plate 106g is thickened at 106k. At the top of the thickened portion 10611, the member 106 has a rear extension 166: which is adapted to overlie the top casing wall 17. The portion 1060: provides a front shoulder 106i above and adjacent the rear of the thickened portion 1126/1. With extension 106e in place, a wire pin 107 may be loacted against shoulder 106]' and extended behind bosses les 4 formed on the top wall 17 to each side of the guide1 assembly 106.

At its lower end, guide assembly 106 is provided with hooks 106b attached to the lower end portion 106k of the guide assembly, on either side of slot 26, these hooks 10617 being adapted to be hooked under respective bosses 169 xed to wall 23, as shown in FIG. 2. As shown in FIG. 2, the plate 106g has laterally spaced extensions 106! which extend to the bottom of the assembly 106 and connect with the hooks 106b.

The hub 11@ is central to the upper portion of plate 106g. Reel 111 ts turnably upon hub 110 and has an outer cylindrical wall 111a to contain the coiled spring 112. One end of spring 112 is received in slot 110a of hub 110. Cable 115 is wound upon the outer periphery of Wall 11161. The cable and reel assembly is covered by disc 113, which overlies the front of plate 106e and is secured thereto by screws 114.

Plate 106e has a central vertical slot 135 which extends to the bottom portion 1li6p of plate 106e. Plate 106e has vertical ilanges 106e extending forwardly on either side of slot 135. Preferably, the width of slot 135 is slightly less than the spacing of anges 106C.

Fingerpiece 116 has a top horizontal plate 116f under which are cross stiffening ribs 116d and 116e, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 4. The stiiening member 116e extends vertically and longitudinally, is centrally located and has a rear extension 116a which extends rearwardly of plate 116i. Save for the upper portion 116f which is of the same thickness as member 116e, the extension member 11661 is of increased width. The member 116a is received within slide member 131. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 4, this member 131 extends vertically and laterally and has rear grooves which slide upon the anges or rails 106e. The member 116a extends through a central vertical slot of member 13-1a and also extends through slot 135 in guide member 106. Cable 115 has a lower end 115a which is bent and extended through an appropriate hole of extension 116a, near the top thereof, so that depression of fngerpiece 116 unwinds cable 115 by turning of the reel, with the resultant spring tension operating automatically to return the fingerpiece to its uppermost position when the operator releases it.

Separation of the ngerpiece and of member 131a are prevented by the shoulder members 13111 which overlie extension 116a against portion 1161, as shown in FIG. 6. These shoulder members 131e: hook over the top of element 116a when pushed upwardly over each side of element 116a.

Pull member 120 is in the form of a generally rectangular plate formed with parallel longitudinally extending teeth 143 on the rear edge thereof. The member 20 has a central slot 142 extending to the front edge thereof. Lateral pin 140 extends through element 120 at the front thereof, with the pin portion 14051 bridging slot 142. Further stub pins 41 extend laterally from the sides of element 120, slightly rearwardly of pin 140. The assembly of element 120 and element 116 is completed before element 131 is pushed upwardly into place on ngerpiece 116. The extension 116a of ingerpiece 116, which extends through slot 135 as previously described, has a further downward extension 116q formed with a bayonet slot 116p, as shown in FIG. 2. With fingerpiece 116 in place with its extension 116a through the slot 135, the', element 120 is raised to bring extension 116q into slot 142, and upon further raising of element 120 the pin portion 141m is received within notch 11617 as shown in FIG. 2. This permits completion of the assembly by assembling element 131 with ngerpiece 116 as previously described. The ends of pins 144) are then slidably received within notches formed in the casing walls 18M at the front thereof, these notches being designated by the reference numeral 146i: and being clearly shown in FIG. 4. The pins 141 then ride in further notches 141:1 also formed in the walls 1S1a and alsoyclearly shown in FIG. 4. As clearly aesinea shown in the drawing, with the elements thus far described assembled, the teeth 143 project rearwardly downwardly into the chute, in position to engage the cotton strip 105 for movement thereof.

For reception of the retarding and tearing element 161, the casing intermediate wall 189 is formed with a rearwardly extending boss 117. This boss 117 has a through slot 117 at the level of section line 7-7 of FIG. 2, and the element 161 is slidable in slot 11751. As an important feature of the invention, the wall 130 is for-med with a front boss 117b just above slot 117, this boss 117b having a forwardly downwardly inclined front surface extending from the main plane of wall 180 to a bottom point spaced substantially forwardly of the main plane of wall 180 and on a level with the upper surface of the rectangular slot 117e. As shown in FIG. 2, the downwardly moving cotton 105 is ,diverted forwardly of the inclined surface of boss 117b so as to be clear of slot 117e. This prevents snagging of the cotton within the slot.

The element 161, as clearly shown in FIGS. l() and 1l, comprises a generally rectangular, laterally elongated plate 16ethe height of which is less than the height of slot 117:1. Each end of plate 164 isV for-med With square blocks 162 which extend above and below the level of plate 164 and which are located'at the rear of the side edges thereof. These blocks 162 vare received frictionally slidably within slot 117ey adjacent the sides thereof. Pins 167 on the respective blocks 162 extend laterally outwardly there- `of and also extend beyond the sides of boss 117. Parallel, longitudinally extending ribs 163 on the upper face of the plate 164 and 166 on the lower face thereof serve as stitlening ribs. Optionally, there are four ribs 163 and four ribs 166'. Teeth 165 connect with the front ends of the respective ribs 166 and also with the front edge of plate 164 and extend forwardly thereof. The top surface of each tooth 165 extends generally horizontally. Tooth 165 is triangular in cross section and is forwardly tapered with its two bottom surfaces inclined towards its upper surface, so that tooth 165 terminates in a point. In the retracted position of FIG. 2, the teeth are wholly received within slot 178. In the forward extended position of element 161, element 161 extends partly out of the slot 117er, and the teeth extend to the front of the chute. The guide pins 167 `extend laterally outwardly from the respective blocks 162 and through longitudinal slots 181g in the intermediate side casing walls 181. The movement of element 161 is controlled by the engagement of pins 167 with cam plates 166, the movement of the cam plates 16() being controlled by movement of ngerpiece 116. As shown in FIG. 9, each cam plate 160 is generally rectangular. In the upper half of cam plate 160, there is provided a cam slot 168 which is upwardly forwardly inclined. Adjacent the lower end of plate 160, it has .a rear notch or cutout 174e, a bridging piece 174 and a rectangular cut- -out 173. Plate 166 has a front extension 160e the top edge of which is approximately on the level of the bottom end of slot 168. The two extensions 161m connect at their fronts with inturned lateral flange elements 161th. As shown in phantom in FIG. 8 (which is taken on a line below the level of elements 161m and 16%), the extensions or flanges 161m are slidably received between chute wall 181a and guide member flange 106r. The flange 160i) is further received between the front end of wall extension 181m and plate 166e. Upon a comparison of FIGS. 7 and 8, it will be noted that below the level of FIG. 7, the groove 146o is increased in width to become a slot extending entirely through wall 131, as designated by the reference numeral 146g. Accordingly, the elements 166b ride in vertical alignment with pin 146. This means that upon downward movement of the fngerpiece, through the level of line 77 of FIG. 2, the plates 160 are lowered.

In order to mount and retain `the cam plates 16d in place, a locking member 176 is provided. As shown in FIG. 8, locking plate 170 is in the form of a laterally and vertically extending plate which is frictionally slid; ably located between the rear ends 133 of walls 181 and the rear wall of the casing; Arms 171 extend longitudinally forwardly from the sides of plates 176 and are provided with laterally inturned hooks 172 which snap into the recesses 173 of cam plates 166. Optionally, the opening 174 is reinforced by a cirournlferential outwardly extending flange 175 to provide a socket for reception of hook 172.

Flange 186er extends vertically and longitudinally forwardly froml the center of platel 170. Retrrr spring 18'6 extends and is coniieotod between element 186a` `and the bottom part of boss 1147, so as to tend to raise the member 170y and hence the `plates 160 from the position of FIG.` 3, upon release ot'- ngepiece 116, so as to return the retarding andI severing element 126 to its normal position.

As a further `feature of the construct-ion, it will be noted upon comparison of FIGS. 7 and 8 that the plates `16) are downwardly convergent. Put in other terms",` the side support for plates are downwardly convergent, and the effect is that as the plates 161i are lowered, they tend to come together. Thus, in FIG. 7, representing the rest condition of thep'arts, the pins 167 are virtually outside the slots" 168. However, as the plates 160 are lowered, the pins enter the slots 168 to a greater' extent. This means that the initial' movement of plates 160 from rest can be `aceorplislhed with a minimum of friction, with the 'full engagement of the pins in guide slots 168 only occurring after some momentum of plates 160 has been built up.

Summary of operation of the dispenser While the operaiton of the dispenser is believed to be readily apparent from the foregoing description, nevertheless it can be briefly summarized. After the container 11 has been mounted upon the dispenser, an initial length of cotton strip is drawn into the chute in position such as shown in FIG. 2. When it is desired to dispense a charge of cotton, the operator moves tingerpiece 116 downwardly in the direction of arrow et). The teeth 143 engaging in the cotton draw it downwardly. At an intermediate portion of the movement of the ngerpiece, the pins 14d engage the flan-ges 160i), thereby causing lowering of plates 160. The resulting movement of pins 167 in slots 163 causes forward extension of the element 161, with the teeth 165 entering the cotton strip 1135. It will be understood that the `so-called strip 105 is of approximately the same lateral dimension as the longitudinal dimension shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, so that the teeth 165 enter the material fairly evenly. The portion of plate 164 projecting beyond boss 117!) engages into the cotton and presses it against the front of the chute. The combination of this action of plate 164, as wellI as the action of teeth 165, result-s in the fact that as the continued downward movement of ingerpiece 116 occurs, the cotton above element 161 cannot move downwardly and the cotton is severed within the region of element 161. The continued movement downward of chute 116 brings the severed length of cotton ltlb to the bottom of the chute. Upon release of the fingerpiece, the parts return to their normal position, under the action of the two return springs 136 and 112. While it is-possible to withdraw the severed cotton 10511 from the chute, it is also possible to retain the cotton in the chute, and rely upon the next action of the ingerpiece` to push down a newr length of cotton 1tl5b and thereby eject the previously severed length of cotton ItlSb from the chute.

Modifications of the retardng and severing element As shown in' FIG. 12, the plate 2,64` corresponds to plate 164 of the embodiment of FIGS; l0 and ll. However, instead of integral teeth, the teeth 99 are provided with Shanks 98 which are embedded in the plate 264.

In the embodiment of FIG. 13, the plate 364 corre- 7 sponds to the plate 164 of FIGS. 10 and 11. However, instead of teeth 165, a blade 98 is utilized having a total width corresponding to the spacing of the teeth 165. This blade 98 is wedge-shaped and tapered, as clearly shown in the drawing.

While plate 364 may be made of smooth plastic, blade 98 is optionally made of or covered with natural or synthetic rubber, so as to increase its friction with the cotton.

While a preferred embodiment of the invention has been disclosed, and various possible changes, omissions and additions have been indicated therein, it will be apparent that various other changes, omissions and additions may be made in the invention without departing from the scope and spirit thereof.

Instead of fibrous cotton, the dispenser may -be used to dispense fibrous rayon or other types of fibrous materials, natural or synthetic. The material to be dispensed should be in continuous strip-like form and consist of mechanically interlocked fibers such that the strip, while not readily cut, may be torn in two.

What is claimed is:

1. Dispenser for absorbent cotton or the like in strip form comprising a channel having an entrance for the strip and an exit for the strip and adapted for passage of said strip from the entrance to the exit, means on said dispenser entering said channel and adapted to engage said strip at a selected point of said strip and to draw said strip from said entrance toward said exit, retarding means on said dispenser positioned and adapted to enter said channel and to engage said strip and and block movement thereof, and means coupling said drawing means and said retarding means and automatically operable to maintain said retarding means out of said channel during initial drawing action of said draw means and then to move said retarding means into engagement with said strip behind the point of engagement of said draw means with said strip during the drawing action of said draw means so that upon continued drawing action of said draw means the strip is severed at the point of engagement therewith of the retarding means.

2. Dispenser for cotton strip and the like comprising a casing having a channel with an entrance and an exit and adapted to receive said strip in passage into said entrance, through said channel and out of said exit, draw means on said dispenser and entering said channel for engagement with said strip and movable in an operating stroke from said entrance toward said exit to engage the cotton strip and move it the length of said operating stroke, said casing having a slot transverse to and communicating with said channel and located intermediate the extremes of said operating stroke, retarding means slid- `ably received within said slot and movable between an extended position in which said retarding means enter said channel and engage said strip against movement thereof and a retracted position in which said retarding means are clear of said channel, and means operatively coupling said draw means and said retarding means for automatic movement of said retarding means from retracted position to extended position after said draw means passes said slot during the operating stroke of said draw means so that by competion of said draw stroke the strip is severed by said retarding means and the severed strip portion is moved by said draw means toward said exit.

3. Dispenser according to claim 2, said channel having a projection on the wall thereof on the entrance side of and adjacent to said slot and operatively positioned to divert the moving strip clearingly away from the point of communication of Ysaid slot with said channel.

4. Dispenser for absorbent cotton strip and the like comprising an upstanding casing having a top rear opening and a bottom front exit and a vertical channel extending between said entrance and said exit, said casing having a front wall vertical slot communicating with said channel, a ngerpiece slidably mounted externally on said casing front wall, draw teeth mounted upon said lingerpiece and extending downwardly rearwardly therefrom into said channel and positioned and adapted to engage and draw said cotton strip through said channel upon downward movement of said ingerpiece and to slide freely over said cotton strip during raising of said iingerpiece, means normally maintaining said fingerpiece in its upward position, said iingerpiece being manually downwardly movable in an operating stroke so that said teeth draw said strip downwardly toward said exit, said casing having a horizontal slot opposite and communicating with the rear wall of said channel at a point intermediate the extremities of the operating stroke of said teeth, a retarding element slidably received within said slot, means normally maintaining said retarding element retracted within said slot, said retarding element being movable to extended position in which it extends into said channel and operatively engages said cotton strip to prevent movement thereof in response to the action of the draw teeth, and lost motion means coupling said fngerpiece and said retarding element for movement of said retarding element to extended position during the operating stroke of said teeth but after said teeth move past said slot so that upon continuation of the operating stroke of said fingerpiece the strip is severed at the level of said retarding means and the severed portion of the strip is moved toward said exit by said draw teeth.

5. A dispenser in accordance with claim 4, said means coupling said fingerpiece and said retarding element comprising a plate extending vertically and also front to rear, means mounting said plate in said casing for sliding vertical movement, cooperating means carried by said fingerpiece and said plate for engagement therebetween during the operating stroke of said iingerpiece and for resulting downward movement of said plate, said plate having a downwardly rearwardly extending slot, said retarding element having a lateral pin extending slidably into said plate slot, said plate being thereby effective upon lowering of said lingerpiece to act cammingly upon said retarding element to project it forwardly.

6. Dispenser for absorbent cotton in continuous strip form, said dispenser comprising a replaceable container, a continuous strip of absorbent cotton and the like, said container having a side wall, said wall having at least one pin receiving means, said container also having a rectangular tab portion hingedly connected to the top edge thereof and otherwise connected by scoring to said side wall so as to be adapted to be struck therefrom, a casing having a wall adapted to be placed in flush abutment with said container side wall, said dispenser wall having at least one pin adapted to be received within said pin receiving means, said wall being then maintained with the hinge line of said liap on a level with the top of said casing, said top of said casing having flap receiving means whereby said flap may be struck from said container side wall along its hinge line and inserted into said ap receiving means, said casing wall having an opening registering with the opening exposed in said container side wall when said iap is struck therefrom, whereby the end of said strip may be drawn from said container through said opening thereof and through the casing opening into the interior of said casing, said casing having an exit opening remote from said lirst mentioned casing opening, and means within said casing for drawing said strip from said first mentioned casing opening to said exit opening and for severing said cotton strip within said casing.

'7. Dispenser for absorbent cotton and the like in strip form comprising a base, an upstanding casing on said base having a rear wall, a disposable container having a front wall and adapted to be received upon said base with said front wall of said container and said rear wall of said casing in iiush abutment, said container front wall having pierceable portions and said container front wall having pins protruding therefrom and piercing said pierceable portions in assembled condition of said container and said casing, said walls being coextensive in height, said container having a top wall closure ap hingedly connected to the top edge of said container front wall, said container having a rectangular tab portion hingedly connected to said container front wall along said top edge thereof and being otherwise detachably connected to said front container wall, the top of said casing having flap receiving means, said ap being separated from said front container wall and bent upon its hinge line and received by said iiap receiving means, said ap thereby exposing an opening in the front wall of said container, said casing r-ear wall having an entrance opening registering with said container opening, said openings being sized to permit the end of said strip within said container to be threaded through said openings into the interior or said casing, said casing having externally operable draw means extending into said casing and operable in an operating stroke to engage said strip and move it toward said exit, and retarding means coupled to said draw means and operable within said casing during the operating stroke of said draw means to engage and retard said strip behind said draw means whereby upon continuation of the operating stroke of said draw means the strip is severed at the point of engagement therewith of said retarding means and the severed portion of said strip is moved toward said exit.

8. A dispensing container for a continuous strip of absorbent cotton and the like, said container being made of paperboard and the like and having a hollow interior for reception of said cotton strip, said container having a side wall having a top edge, said container having a cover hingedly connected to said top edge and adapted to overlie and enclose said container, said side wall having a rectangular tab portion extending to said upper edge and otherwise connected by score lines around the remainder of the periphery of said tab to said side wall, said tab being thereby adapted to be struck outwardly from said side wall and moved away from said side wall to dene a side wall opening, said side wall opening being sized for movement of said strip therethrough, said side wall also having a pair of circular score lines each dening a knockout within said score line and secured thereby to said side wall, said knockout being adapted to be struck from said side wall and severed therefrom to define a further side wall opening for entrance of a locating pin into said side wall, said tab portion being centrally located with respect to the vertical edges of said side wall, said knockouts being respectively located below said tab portion and adjacent the respective vertical edges of said side wall.

9. A dispensing container for a continuous strip of absorbent cotton and the like for mounting upon a dispenser having a base, a casing upstanding from said base and having a rear wall spaced forwardly of the rear edge of said base, said rear wall having an opening adjacent the top thereof sized for reception of said strip of absorbent cotton therethrough, said casing :further having pins extending rearwardly from its rear wall and located below and outwardly of said opening, said casing having means therein for dispensing cotton received through said opening through the front of said casing, said container being made of paperboard and the like and having a hollow interior for reception of said cotton strip, said container having a side wall having a top edge, said container having a cover hingedly connected to said top edge and adapted to overlie and enclose said container, said side Wall having a rectangular tab portion extending to said upper edge and otherwise connected by score lines around the remainder of the periphery of said tab to said side wall, said tab being thereby adapted to be struck outwardly from said sid-e wall and moved away from said side wall to deiine a side wall opening, said side wall opening being sized for movement of said strip therethrough, said side wall further having knockouts connected thereto by circular score lines whereby said knockouts can be struck from said side wall to dene resulting openings, said knockout openings sized for movement of said pins therethrough, said tab and said knockouts positioned for extension of said pins through the knockout openings and for registration of the tab opening with the casing opening when said container rests upon said base with said side wall in flush abutment with said casing rear wall.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 684,036 10/1901 Bates 141-10 870,215 11/1907 Bates 141-10 1,072,055 9/1913 Straight 225-100 1,194,403 8/1916 Long 22S-106 1,208,701 12/1916 Trenner 225-32 X 1,257,153 2/1918 Turney 221-4 1,621,960 3/1927 Stewart et al 221-4 1,848,628 3/1932 Hebb et al 221-213 2,051,242 8/1936 Birr et al 22S-96 2,117,375 5/1938 Steiner 225-10 2,209,765 7/1940 Cormack 156-212 2,251,823 8/1941 Cullen 225-52 2,286,130 6/1942 Vergobbi 1411-80 2,321,655 6/1943 Carr 229-7 2,331,587 10/1943 Williams 141-80 2,523,183 9/1950 Beall 22S-96 3,002,668 10/1961 Castelli 225-52 3,104,793 9/1963 Hickin 229-7 X WILLlAM W. DYER, IR., Primary Examiner.

ANDREW R. JUHASZ, Examiner, 

1. DISPENSER FOR ABSORBENT COTTON OR THE LIKE IN STRIP FORM COMPRISING A CHANNEL HAVING AN ENTRANCE FOR THE STRIP AND AN EXIT FOR THE STRIP AND ADAPTED FOR PASSAGE OF SAID STRIP FROM THE ENTRANCE TO THE EXIT, MEANS ON SAID DISPENSER ENTERING SAID CHANNEL AND ADAPTED TO ENGAGE SAID STRIP AT A SELECTED POINT OF SAID STRIP AND TO DRAW SAID STRIP FROM SAID ENTRANCE TOWARD SAID EXIT, RETARDING MEANS ON SAID DISPENSER POSITIONED AND ADAPTED TO ENTER SAID CHANNEL AND TO ENGAGE SAID STRIP AND AND BLOCK MOVEMENT THEREOF, AND MEANS COUPLING SAID DRAWING MEANS AND SAID RETARDING MEANS AND AUTOMATICALLY OPERABLE TO MAINTAIN SAID RETARDING MEANS OUT OF SAID CHANNEL DURING INITIAL DRAWING ACTION OF SAID DRAW MEANS AND THEN TO MOVE SAID RETARDING MEANS INTO ENGAGEMENT WITH SAID STRIP BEHIND THE POINT OF ENGAGEMENT OF SAID DRAW MEANS WITH SAID STRIP DURING THE DRAWING ACTION OF SAID DRAW MEANS SO THAT UPON CONTINUED DRAWING ACTION OF SAID DRAW MEANS THE STRIP IS SEVERED AT THE POINT OF ENGAGEMENT THEREWITH OF THE RETARDING MEANS. 